The Study of Living Things

So I recently found my old biology book from years ago and was having total nostalgia moments from when I was in school. I never really liked Science but I have to say I loved studying Ecology and learning about the world around me. Plus our favourite couple met and fell in love while trying to figure out the different between Protease and Anaphase! (I was so proud of myself when I got that in the book, you have no idea).

Plus I love writing Geekward; it's sort of an obsession.

Just a note before you begin, I didn't go to college to be a scientist so please don't nitpick if you did. Probably none of this ever happens but this is fiction so let's roll with it!

Edward Cullen was a brilliant young man.

And that wasn't just his mother's opinion.

No from the time that Edward was very young he saw the world in a different way to most people. While most children took delight in playing at the park because of the swings or the slide, Edward could be found sitting in the wild flowers. Not because he had an appreciation for the beauty of nature or anything.

No he was observing the way the bee would carry the pollen, what ways the flowers grew, the height of them, and how many petals they had. These things fascinated the young child.

But it wasn't just biology he was interested in.

He also loved math.

His parents, a neurobiologist and a cardio-surgeon beamed with pride as their youngest asked them for a microscope for Christmas when his eight and then later for his ninth birthday a scientific calculator. His siblings soon learned that Edward was different, while his older brother Emmett struggled with the pressures of high school Edward had successfully graduated at the age of fourteen. Alice his older twin sister by four minutes wondered why Edward was so much smarter than her, it made her sad once. She told Edward she felt like the dumb twin. He simply told her she was the pretty twin and he had to get something from the arrangement. At the age of fourteen Alice accepted that.

Edward was a good brother, and a son to be proud. He had completed his degree by the age of eighteen and began working on his PhD.

Now at the age of twenty three he had a PhD in Ecology and Behavioural Science. But Ecology was his first love.

He had been at the helm of some of the greatest scientific discoveries in the past eleven years and regarded by many as the captain of the new age of biology.

But one of the problems being the captain of a new age of biology? You needed to find yourself a first mate and a band of pirates... for want of a better analogy.

So that's why Edward found himself up at a time that even the sun deemed too early, black coffee in hand ready to act as a TA and advisor, in Dr. Banner's new Ecology class. Edward wanted to start a new filed study in an area not far from the university and had approached Dr. Banner about offering up this chance to work on this project as sort of a reward.

Edward would help Dr. Banner assess the class and the five top students would assist Edward in the study if they so wished. Edward just assumed Banner was also using this as a coy way to nose into his project and get a TA. Edward couldn't complain. He knew this would benefit his project as well as help some of these younger scientists get their footing in the world of science, which could be pretty cut throat.

People underestimated the scientists but really who else knew over a hundred ways to kill a person and make it look like an act of nature other than a scientist? Not a lot of people.

The students began to trickle in while Edward nursed his coffee. If he ever became a professor he would make sure none of his lectures started before noon. Seriously he had to stop getting into chats on forums with crazy people at two o clock in the morning. It was not healthy.

"Late night Dr. Cullen?" Dr. Banner asked him.

"Why do you torture the young people with these times John?" Edward asked him. The students weren't paying attention and Dr. Banner, or John had been Edward's colleague for about three years now.

"Because it weeds out the slackers from the workers. The slackers will drop this after a week." Dr. Banner explained. "A good tip for when you get this job."

"Not if they paid me enough to complete twenty studies." Edward said when he noticed a girl walking in hunched over a cup of coffee bigger than his. Edward wondered where the hell she got that, because seriously he needed more caffeine like yesterday if he was going to be anyway productive this morning. And he had to do this twice a week for a year?

What had he gotten himself into?

Once all the students were sat down Dr. Banner stood up and introduced himself before explaining to everyone who Edward was and what he was doing here. Some of the students looked interested while others were fighting the urge to stay awake. Edward wasn't taking too much offense to it though, he was struggling with this and he had a PhD in the subject.

The lecture quickly ended when everyone began filing out of the class. Edward packing up his stuff when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

He turned around and almost swallowed his tongue.

The girl who had arrived hunched over the large cup of coffee was standing in front of him, more alert now. She was wearing a jacket draped over her arm along with a messenger bag hanging from her shoulder. She was wearing a green t-shirt with black writing that said 'if it's green or wriggles it's biology, if it stinks it chemistry, if it doesn't work it's physics' along with a pair of black skinny jeans and purple converse. Her thick framed glasses framing her eyes just finished the package that made her a nerd's wet dream, that and she was packing a nice rack underneath the witty t-shirt.

Edward couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, not to tall, but not too short. She had beautiful long brown hair and matching brown eyes that were hidden behind her glasses.

Realising he was staring he blinked as she extended her hair.

"Dr. Cullen it's nice to meet you, I'm Isabella Swan." She said.

"You too Ms. Swan" He said shaking her hand. "Was there something I could help you with?" he asked trying not to stare at her boobs. A feat in itself really.

"Yes you can help me by picking me to work on that study."

"Ms. Swan back again I see" Dr. Banner said from his lectern. "Already harassing the TA's, it's a bit early don't you think."

"Science waits for no woman." She shrugged.

"Edward, Isabella was a student of mine last year. Maybe one to keep your eye on for the study." Dr. Banner said and Edward nodded.

"Well Ms. Swan I'm not deciding until the end of the course but if you work hard, you'll be in the running." Edward said.

"I look forward to working with you Dr. Cullen." Isabella said before shaking his hand again and walking out of the room.

"Oh you're not going to get a moments peace from that girl." Dr. Banner said.

Edward watched as she walked out of the room, she was packing a nice ass in those jeans as well. Maybe he didn't want peace from her.

*TSOLT*

Month passed and Edward was sure Isabella Swan was trying to kill him. They had begun chit chatting after the class every morning, at one stage Edward thought she might be flirting with him but the remembered she just eager for a place of the project.

He had to say he wouldn't mind working with her though; she had a wicked sense of humour that was similar to his own. Not a lot of people tended to get Edward's sense of humour but Ms. Swan seemed to, and if she didn't she put on an excellent show to make him believe she did.

It had started off as pleasantries, but grown to chatting just about the course and little events in each other's life. Edward didn't have a lot of friends and from what he could tell Bella did have any in this class. She tended to sit by herself unless some idiot tried to flirt with her which only got them a look similar to the one Edward's mother used to give when the family dog shit on the new carpet.

He enjoyed his exchange with her every day, and was sort of glad she was a bit of a loner. It meant that he didn't have to fight attentions from a gaggle of friends. He only had a small window twice a week to chat.

But after all these weeks of chatting Edward was affirmative that she was in fact trying to kill him. He wondered was there a 'how to be a sexy nerdy girl' class that she was taking because seriously, he was hard with one look at her. More often than not he was happy he had a desk to hide his boner from her and dreaded Dr. Banner requesting he get up to give out class materials.

She really must want on this project Edward thought as she strutted away from his desk wearing a tight black skirt and a red t-shirt with the joke on it 'I wish I was DNA Helixase so I could unzip your jeans' and chucks, after placing a massive cup of coffee. It was now December and Edward had his eye about fifteen of the students in the class that would be in the running for a spot on the study at the end of the year.

If only he could tell Isabella she didn't have to work so hard, she was at the top of his list and not just because he had jacked off to the image of her wearing nothing but those humorous t-shirts and a pair of panties, oh and the glasses let's not forget the classes, because that's what really got him. No the reason she was at the top of his list was because she had the makings of an amazing biologist.

Every assignment she had turned in had been amazing and Edward was curious about talking to her about the topics of her assignment on a deeper level because she had some interesting ideas concerning the way people looked at ecology right now.

Actually never mind ecology, the way people looked at biology right now. He had gone so far as to show some of Bella's work to his mother who was very impressed with it. Esme was a well known neurobiologist and had almost pilfered Bella from Ecology the minute she had read some of her work. It took some begging on Edward's part to make sure she didn't steal his number one choice right now.

Plus a promise to come over for dinner more.

And that he would strive to eventually give her grandchildren... seriously parents could be very pushy.

Dr. Banner droned on about the morning boring side of ecology, they were studying and conservation. Edward was happier collecting bugs in little jars but he supposed that was just the little boy in him, he found theory boring but knew it was essential. If one wasn't versed in these areas one could find themselves in a lot of trouble when it came to dealing with projects out in the field. Especially if it had anything to do with outside or the environment.

People were so touchy with that these days.

Edward drank his much appreciated gift from Ms. Swan, she was getting a bit of a rep as a teacher's pet but she was just playing the game. Some of the other's were catching on, one guy had asked him to sign the paper that had got Edward his PhD and another made a point of sharing baked goods with him when he came back from a weekend with his parents.

Others weren't playing the game at all. Some thought they were too good for it, like one kid. Mike Newton, Edward had taken an immediate disliking to him. And okay that might have been because when he saw him he had his hand placed on Ms. Swan's thigh, one of the idiots who had received one of Bella's 'shit looks', and Edward was jealous about that. But this was only added to when he realised Mike was lazy and thought his mediocre theories were a gift from God himself.

He was actually barely scraping a D so he was automatically out of the running, but Edward was a cynic in the mood to watch a pretty boy fall. He would let Mike think he was made before rewarding a hard worker like Ben Cheney with a spot on the programme, sickening Newton.

When class was over, Isabella made her way over to Edward's desk. Edward got to see the way her skirt moved in the front and he had to stop himself from groaning loudly when he saw. He was once again thankful for the desk in front of him, hiding his physical reaction to the lovely Ms. Swan and her attire.

"Anything I can help you with Ms. Swan?" he asked, Dr. Banner was still hanging around and Edward didn't want him thinking he had an inappropriate relationship with a student so he had to keep it formal. "Oh and thank you for the coffee." He added tapping the now empty cup on the side and she smiled.

"No problem Dr. Cullen. I just wanted to know if I could turn in my paper now." She asked him holding her binder in her hands. He noticed it had several DNA strands doodled on the front, typical scientist.

"It's not due for another two weeks." He reminded her "Are you sure you don't want to keep it in case you want to add to it?" he asked her curious as to what kind of college student turned in a paper two weeks early, usually people were trying to bribe him from putting the grades in for a week or so until they could hand there's in. This was quite unusual.

"I'm not here until after the Christmas break." She told him. Dr. Banner looked over curiously. "I've cleared it with the Dean." She explained and Dr. Banner nodded before returning to the notes on his lectern preparing for his next class.

"Why?" Edward asked. "Sorry that's none of my business. Sure you can hand your paper in now. And if you want to leave your email I can make sure any notes or handouts can be emailed to you." Edward said. Normally he wouldn't be this helpful but he knew Ms. Swan would have a legitimate reason for her absence and that shouldn't diminish her chances to work on the study.

"That would be great" She said taking out her paper and handing it to Edward before opening her binder and taking out a piece of paper. She quickly scrawled out her email address. "Thank you Dr. Cullen. Have a good Christmas. You too Dr. Banner." She told.

Already focused in his notes Dr. Banner waved while Edward responded a bit more enthused.

"You too Ms. Swan." He told her, slightly saddened that he wouldn't see her until January but maybe that would give him time to kick this crush he had on her.

*TSOLT*

Following the Christmas break Edward didn't know who was more depressed about returning back to class, himself or the students. The sullen looks on each of their faces as they walked into the room made Edward feel back. They all must really want a spot on the project.

The class had lost a couple of people over the break; Dr. Banner informed Edward that at least twelve people had dropped the course over the holidays. Edward wasn't shocked though, it was a tough class and it took a lot to hack it.

As he watched everyone trickle in he couldn't help but look out for Isabella. His plans to get over his stupid little crushed over the holidays had been foiled by the fact that he had missed her for some crazy reason.

He missed their little chance, plus her witty scientific t-shirts. He wondered where she bought them but she seemed to have a new one for every class, she must have some extensive collection.

Edward kept his eye out but by the time the class start Isabella still hadn't made an appearance.

That was strange for Isabella, she was only was punctual. Plus she had missed the last two weeks of the last semester so she should have come early to discuss making up her exam credits with Dr. Banner.

Edward placed an 'x' beside her name marking her absent. It was something he had started doing with the leading contenders for his study; he was keeping track of their attendance so he knew was committed and who wasn't.

At the end of the class Ben Cheney came up to Edward and started discussing the notes that had been made on his last paper. Edward was happy to give the notes to Ben; he liked his work and wanted him to succeed. While he was talking though he heard someone walk up behind him.

"Oh hey Bella." Ben said waving at to the person causing Edward to turn around.

Isabella stood in front of him wearing jeans, an over sized plaid t-shirt and a black tank top. Her expression sunken in and tired. More so then a student struggling to return to school after the holidays. Her eyes looked dead.

She didn't look like herself at all.

"Isabella how was your break?" he asked her.

"It was fine Dr. Cullen. Can I speak to Dr. Banner?" she asked him, not meeting his eyes as she spoke. That was strange normally she was so confident and assured of herself when she spoke.

"Yeah just go on in, his door is open." Edward told her before she quickly went to talk to Dr. Banner.

"That poor girl." Ben said.

"What?" Edward asked him curiously.

"Did you not hear?" Ben asked him and Edward shook his head, he tried to stay out of the student gossip, but if it had to do with Isabella he really wanted to know. "Her Dad had another stroke."

"Another stroke?" Edward asked and Ben nodded.

"Yeah he had one just before Christmas and then she was about to fly back here for school and she found him on the floor in the bathroom." Ben said before looking down at his watch. "Oh shoot. I better go." He said "Thanks for your advice on the notes Dr. Cullen."

"No problem Ben." Edward said before Ben left.

Isabella's father had had a stroke? Edward was saddened for Isabella and was curious as to what she discussing with Dr. Banner right now. From the short conversations they had had he knew Isabella's parents were divorced and that her father lived a couple of states away by himself.

Just as Edward was musing what was going on in the office Isabella appeared her eyes red followed by Dr. Banner.

"Thank you for understanding Dr. Banner." She said sniffling and he nodded.

"Of course Ms. Swan" He told her. "If you ever change your name there is always a seat for you in this lecture hall."

"Is everything okay Isabella?" Edward asked her approaching her and Dr. Banner.

"Dr. Cullen, Ms. Swan has some unfortunate news."

"Oh?" Edward asked.

"I'm leaving school." She told him.

"What?" Edward asked shocked.

"My father has medical problems and I need to be home." She said looking down at her feet. "I just came back to get my stuff and drop my classes." She further explained.

"Dr. Cullen if you could Isabella's work for her, I unfortunately have to get to a meeting." Dr. Banner said and Edward nodded.

"Yes of course." Edward said.

Dr. Banner shook Isabella's hand before leaving the lecture hall that his office was attached to.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked her.

"Can you just get my work please?" she asked him wiping her eyes.

"Come in here." He said taking her hand and pulling her into Dr. Banner's office and shutting the door. "Isabella..." He said when she broke down crying.

Not knowing what to say he let her cry. He gently patted her on the back. Seriously he didn't know what to do with a crying woman. He liked to think it was something that freaked all men out, not just him.

She eventually calmed down and he reached for a box of tissues and handed them to her.

"Thanks" She said wiping her eyes.

"Ben told me the gist of things." Edward said and she nodded. "And you have to care for him?" he asked her and she nodded. "There's no one else?"

"I really wish there was but no." Isabella said looking at her feet. "I knew being an only child that if either of my parents every got sick I would have to look after them a bit but I presumed they would be..." She began but throwing her hands up.

"Older?" Edward asked and she nodded. "Im the youngest I never have to worry about that stuff."

"Plus both of your parents are doctors Dr. Cullen. Some people have all the luck." She said wiping her eyes again.

"So what does this mean for your degree?" Edward asked her.

"It's over." Isabella said.

"Why?" he asked her.

"Because I have to use the money that was set aside for tuition on medical bills and I'm never going to be able to finish my degree." Isabella said and Edward frowned. "What?" she asked him.

"I'm just thinking about how this is a loss for the scientific community." He told her and she gave him a weak smile.

"Thank you" She said. "I'm really sorry that I don't get to work on your study with you."

"Me too" He told her. "I'll get your work for you." He told her and she nodded.

He went into the store room where all the students work was kept on file. It was policy to return all their assignments back to them unless they gave special permission for them to be kept as templates for future students.

Once he had located her folder he sighed.

Edward couldn't believe he was losing his number one candidate. The only one he particularly liked. Plus the fact that she was leaving the school without finishing her education this was likely the last time he would ever see her.

He walked back out into the office and she was wiping her eyes again.

"Are you sure there's no way you can stay?" Edward asked her. This was tearing her apart and to be honest it would tear Edward apart as well knowing that he was losing the chance to work with someone as brilliant as Isabella. It wasn't often Edward found someone else brilliant so losing this chance was killing him. Plus the small issue of his crush on her made him feel like he was being stabbed in the gut when he saw her crying.

"I wish" Isabella said. "But no, the only way I could do that would be to move my Dad here and get him a carer and I don't have that kind of money." She said.

It was then Edward got an idea.

"I do though" He said quickly and she looked up.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Listen to me before you freak out?" he asked her and she nodded. "I happen to think you're brilliant." He told her and she gave him a weak smile. "And it's killing me right now to see you leaving this programme; I really want to work with you this Summer. Ask Banner you're the top of my list."

"Dr. Cullen..."

"Call me Edward please, and hear me out." He told her. "I will happily pay for you to supply your father with a medical nurse as long as you agree to finish out your education."

"Edward" Isabella said shocked. "I can't ask you to do that... it's too much." She said shaking her head.

"Bella... can I call you Bella?" he asked her and she nodded. "I've shown your work to my mother. We both agree that you've got a gift. It would be a crime to see you miss out on finishing your education just because this happened to your father. Let me do this for you."

She started crying again but this time she walked over and hugged him.

"Thank you" She whispered and he nodded. "This means so much to me, you have no idea... thank you so much."

*TSOLT*

"So you want Ben Cheney, Angela Weber, Tyler Crowley, Rachel Black and Isabella Swan?" Dr. Banner asked Edward who nodded. The end of the semester had come so fast, Edward couldn't believe he was already making this decision.

So much had changed over the past couple of months; Edward's head was still spinning.

Bella had quickly made the arrangements for her father to be moved closer to the college and Edward helped her prepare in all ways possible. He had hired a nurse, certified in manual handling that lived with Bella and her father at Bella's house. Sue Clearwater was a forty year old widow who was more than happy to help when Edward explained Bella's situation to her. Plus she and Charlie, Bella's father, seemed to get on very well.

But something else had happened. Now that Edward knew more intimate details of her personal life, Bella had opened up a lot to him. And un-surprisingly they had tentatively started a romantic relationship. Edward remembered the night he had first mustered the courage to kiss her.

Edward helped Bella clear up from dinner. Because of her father's condition she was at home a lot. But she liked having Edward over for dinner. They become close friends over the past few months and they enjoyed being in each other's company. Plus to express her gratitude Bella like to treat Edward to a home cooked meal every week, as an added bonus it gave Edward an opportunity to see her more. An opportunity he was happy to grab. Sue had taken Charlie to help him get ready for bed so it was just the two of them.

"So have you got a grade for my assignment yet?" Bella asked Edward and he shook his head. "I swear you leave grading mine until last."

"It gives me something to look forward to." Edward said making her blush. "Seriously I have to do a lot of grading for Dr. Banner and I see a lot of crappy stuff. So I leave yours and another few until the end so that I don't lose faith in this generation of scientists' altogether." He explained and she laughed.

"I suppose that's fair enough" She teased. "How come you do all the grading for Dr. Banner?"

"Because he's letting me poach his students." Edward said and she laughed. "No he has a heavy class load and in the end I'm the one going to be choosing from the class who I want for the project so I don't mind getting to know all of your works." Edward explained. "I don't do all his classes though; otherwise there would be no project for you to work on this summer."

"Am I really in the running for it?" Bella asked curiously and Edward nodded.

"To be quite honest you're the only one who I'm 100% decided on, everyone else can be dropped and picked. There's really only four places still up for grabs, but tell anyone and I'll deny it." He told her and she smiled.

"I can't wait" She said with a smile.

"Neither can I" He told. "It's going to be a lot of fun, a lot of work but a lot of fun."

"Do you think I'll be any good in the field?" she asked him.

"I've told you before I think you're brilliant and I've enquired about a few students and their lab capabilities from their lab professors and I know you're quite capable." He told her.

"Do you really think I'm brilliant?" she whispered causing him to look at her.

"More than I should" He said looking into her eyes.

"I think you're brilliant too." She told him not breaking that eye contact.

"Bella can I try something?" he asked her.

"What?" she asked him.

"An experiment of sorts."

"Okay" She said nodding. "What's the hypothesis?" she asked him.

"That I would really enjoy kissing you" He told her.

"Okay, justify?" she asked still looking at him.

"Because I've been thinking about it for awhile."

"Any background studies done?" She whispered as he moved closer to him.

"Well I surveyed one of the parties involved and it all seemed okay."

"What about the other party?" she asked him. "Everything has to be fair" She added.

"Okay I'll do that now. I need to give you a survey do you mind?" he asked her and she shook her head letting him know she didn't mind at all. "Do you think you would enjoy kissing me?"

"Yes" She said and Edward had to stop from pouncing on her.

"And do you want me to kiss you?" he asked her.

"Yes" She answered.

"Okay well then my survey concludes that the two parties are in the same frame of mind."

"Well you're proposal seems to be put together."

"Do you think I should carry out the actual part of the experiment?" he asked standing in front of her.

"Yes" She whispered.

He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. There were few words that Edward knew to associate with this moment. The moment Bella's lips touched his he felt like he had been plugged into a socket. His hands dropped from her face only because he wrapped his arms around her waist, her wrapped around his neck pulling him closer to her.

When they pulled away Bella looked up at him.

"Well?" she asked him.

"What?" he asked her.

"Was your hypothesis correct?" she asked him.

"All good experiments have repetition before finding conclusive results Ms. Swan, you know that." He told her and she smiled pressing her lips to his. She deepened this kiss by putting opening her mouth; Edward opened his too ignoring the fact that experiments must be the same each time for them to be conclusive.

He pulled back first this time.

"Hmm" He said and she looked up at him.

"What?" she asked him.

"It seems my hypothesis was correct." He told her and she smiled.

"You should really put that into practise." She told him before kissing him again. "This could be very beneficial." She added.

"See and you were worried about how we would work in the field."

"Yes" Edward said answering Dr. Banner's question, forcing thoughts of Bella and kissing out of his head. So far that was all they had done in their relationship. Edward didn't think it was appropriate to have a sexual relationship with until this decision had been made. He didn't want anyone saying Bella only got this because she had slept with him.

"A lot of students have mentioned they think Ms. Swan should be taken out of the running seeing as you have your arrangement with her and you're relationship." Dr. Banner said and Edward gritted his teeth.

Originally Bella and Edward intended to keep their arrangement and romantic relationship private. It was sort of taboo for anyone on the teaching staff to date a student and so they weren't planning on going public until after the project was over this summer. But one day Edward had left Bella's assignment on Dr. Banner's desk, while he went to retrieve it the lecture hall had emptied out and it was just him and Bella there.

Being bold Edward pulled her to him and kissed her when that snot nosed Mike Newton walked in and saw them.

Edward had to do quick damage control and tell Dr. Banner about his relationship with Bella and the arrangement they had about her father. At first Dr. Banner was furious but once Edward assured him that it was all consensual and that Bella was twenty one there wasn't much Dr. Banner could say. Edward wasn't officially her teacher. He was an advisor on her course but not her professor and they did have a sexual relationship either.

"Well if that's the case I'll reduce it to four spaces and invite Isabella to work on the project independent from the class." Edward said "You know as well as I do John that I had Isabella Swan picked for this project before Christmas, she is a brilliant candidate and I'm lucky that I get to date her as well, I'm not going to be bullied by the likes of Mike Newton and Jessica Stanley who want to say I only gave it to her because she's my girlfriend." Edward stated.

"That is very true" Dr. Banner said "Just be prepared for the back lash"

"Aren't I always?" Edward asked him who nodded.

"Okay then, let's go announce it." Dr. Banner said.

They had left the students in the lecture hall while they finalised their discussion. Just thirty students remained at the year, so the decision had been hard to make. For awhile Edward was considering opening another spot but the company funding his study would only give him money to pay for five students and it was a rule that Edward didn't invest his own money into his projects, otherwise he would end up broke.

"Can I have your attention?" Dr. Banner asked the students and they all silenced. "Well this has been an excellent year and I have to say I have been impressed by all of your work. But I say you're all bored rigid listening to me speak, so I'm handing you over to the man you really want to hear from. Dr. Cullen" Dr. Banner said and Edward stood up and walked over to the lectern.

"Thank you Dr. Banner, I would also like to thank all of you. You've all shown great interest in this project and I'm so happy to see the response it had gotten. Unfortunately I only have places to offer for this project this Summer but for those of you who don't make the cut I look forward to your endeavours in science in the future and maybe one day we might collaborate on another project." He said and they all clapped. "Now I'm not going to drag this out so I'm just going to ask the five people I've chosen to follow me into Dr. Banner's office once you're called." Edward said. "In no order I would like to invite Angela Weber, Rachel Black, Tyler Crowley, Ben Cheney and finally Isabella Swan to join me on my project this Summer. If you could give them a round of applause please and could the five of you join me in Dr. Banner's office."

They all clapped but he could see the jealous faces, the nasty looks. One girl sitting behind Bella leaned forward and whispered something in her ear making Bella look down at her feet. Edward would ask about that later but for now he had a group to meet with.

The five chosen were extremely happy and eager to work. The meeting went well and Edward gave them all schedules that they would need this Summer before dismissing them. The others left while Bella hung back.

"Is everything okay?" Edward asked her and she nodded. He collected his stuff and took her hand as they walked out of the office and past Dr. Banner who waved at them. "What did that girl say to you after I made the announcement?" he asked her curiously as they walked out of the building.

"Oh Lauren?" she asked.

"Wait that's Lauren Mallory?" he asked her and she nodded. "That girl would be better off in a different course." He said and Bella laugh "But what did she said to you?"

"That I... never mind." She said.

"Bella, tell me." He said stopping and tilting her face up so she was looking him dead in the eye.

"She said I must be really good a sucking dick to get you to pay for my father and give me a place of the project" Bella said and Edward saw red.

"What an ignorant girl." Edward said and she shrugged. "Well you know the truth Bella."

"Hmmm" She said swinging their joined hands.

"Bella?" he asked her. "You do know why I picked you? And it's not that. For one thing for all I know you could be really bad at that." He said teasingly making her smile "And two, I picked you because you've got one of the best minds I've ever come across."

"But that doesn't explain..." She began when he interrupted her.

"What? Why I pay for Charlie?" He asked her and she nodded. "Well that's easier to explain then the other thing."

"Why?" she asked him.

"Well... because I love you." He told her and she stopped mid stop.

"What?" she asked him.

"I love you"

"So all that crap you normally feed me about my education and stuff..." She began.

"Well that's also a factor." He said. "You're too brilliant to not finish school and get you're qualification. You deserve it after all your work. But yeah it's mainly because I'm pretty sure I'm madly in love with you."

"Another hypothesis?" she asked him and he nodded. "That's weird." She said.

"Oh. Why?" he asked her curiously.

"Because I was pondering the exact same thing about you." She said leaning and kissing him. "I you've just helped me come to a conclusion."

"What?" he asked her.

"I love you" She told him and he smiled. "So now there's only one more thing to do" She said.

"What?" he asked her.

"Well it's a weird experiment I've been designing. You reach the conclusion but you do a physical experiment to further prove your conclusion."

"Oh really?" he asked her and she nodded. "And what would that entail?"

"Take me to your apartment and you'll find out." She said kissing him.

Catching her drift, he had to stop himself from throwing her over his shoulder and running back to his apartment. Instead he just dragged her behind him as he made his way back to his apartment hurriedly.

Once inside his apartment he pushed her up against the door and pushed her jacket off her shoulder. He chuckled when he saw her t-shirt. It was yellow with 'I heart You' on it but instead of the normal symbol of the heart there was a diagram one would find in a highschool biology book.

"Very fitting"

"I also have one that says 'My Cardiovascular system operate to sustain life but also for You' I thought I'd wear that one when you introduce me to your parents next week. Thought it might impress your Dad." She said and he laughed at her before kissing her again and carrying her to his bedroom.

Their laughter was replaced with different sounds as they shed their clothes, Edward experiencing so many of his fantasies of this woman at the one time. He kissed her with all his might as he entered her for the time, her body clinging to his as he panted out that he loved her in between kisses. He then kissed along her body kissing every inch that he could reach in his position making her cry out.

Bella rolled them over so that she was on top, her breasts hanging in front of Edward's face; he leaned out and sucked one into his mouth as she moved up and down on top of him. His hand playing with the other.

This was much better than all his fantasies combined. He had her here in his bed. She allowed him to make love to her, something he could never imagined all those months ago when she first introduced herself to him, telling him they would be working together. Now they were working together in the best of ways.

When it was done they stayed kissing and cuddling enjoying being in love, and each other.

"Brilliant" She murmured against his lips and he smiled.

Never in a million years did Edward think that when he started this project back in September, that he would ever meet the woman of his dreams. But here she was lying in his bed naked as the day she was born except for a pair of glasses.

He had never met someone so brilliant in his life and he didn't think he ever would again. She was it for him, he knew that.

"Bella?" he asked her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Marry me?" he asked her and she gasped.

"What?" She asked him. "Edward we've only been dating a few months... how can we...?" she asked when he sat up.

"I know what I want" He told her. "And I want you. I want you to be my partner in everything. In my work, in my personal, everything. I've been entranced with you since day one and I know I'm only ever going to want you."

"Edward you're only twenty three how can you possibly know?" she asked him.

"I just do" He told her leaning and kissing her. "Please Bella; make me the happiest man in the world. Marry me?"

"Yes" She said nodding leaning in and kissing him.

Edward beamed as he wrapped his arms around her. He had found his partner in life. And they were going to take on the entire scientific community together.

"Hmm Mrs. Cullen" He murmured.

"I was thinking Dr. Cullen" She told him and he smiled.

Yeah Edward Cullen had always been told he was a brilliant man.

But nowadays if you told him that, he would tell you he was only a brilliant man because he had a brilliant wife.

A year after they got engaged they got married, before Bella went on and got her PhD adding another Dr. Cullen to the family.

And then after they finally squared away their third collaborative project Edward and Bella began to study another area of Biology completely new to both of them.

Reproduction.

THE END.

So that's a lot of writing.

Let me know, did you like it? Hate it? I'm really interested to hear you're feedback.

Thanks for reading and please review.

Love The Irish Cullen.